Chapter 571 65: Foes Meet, Eyes Ablaze (Part 2)

Wang Qingquan reached out and took the Jade Token, saying with some difficulty, "Brother Song said each location needs a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator to guard it. I am only at Late-stage Foundation Establishment. I'm afraid I am not up to this task."

"It's no matter. I will send a Tributor from the clan to assist Fellow Daoist Wang," Song Luzhou said with a slight smile.

"Clan Leader Wang, it seems we'll be fighting side-by-side. I am Chi Huo," Chi Huo Old Ghost said, standing up and giving Wang Qingquan a slight salute.

Chi Huo Old Ghost had originally been a Late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. However, after consuming the Jade Peach that Song Changsheng brought back from the Blood Moon Small World, he successfully broke through his bottleneck and reached Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, making him more than capable of shouldering the heavy responsibility of guarding an Array Hub.

Liu Hongye and the others were somewhat surprised to hear this; they had never heard of the Song Clan having such a figure in their ranks.

In a place like Ling Province, a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator was an exceptionally rare expert.

Song Luzhou had no intention of satisfying their curiosity. He took out the last Token and handed it to Yu Xueqian, saying, "Clan Leader Yu, the Jade Bamboo Peak on the left flank will be entrusted to your Yu Clan."

"I accept your command," Yu Xueqian said, nodding. With the Wang Clan's example right before her, she didn't bring up the issue of her clan's strength. She trusted that Song Luzhou would make suitable arrangements for her.

Indeed, the next moment, Song Luzhou called out several names in succession.

"Zhu Tributor, Yunxue, Wang Tributor, I'll have to trouble you three to assist Clan Leader Yu."

Zhu Yiqun, Xia Yunxue, and Wang Xuande rose and accepted the command.

As Tributors to the clan, Zhu Yiqun and Wang Xuande weren't originally obligated to risk their lives for the Song Clan. For example, the Song Clan's other two Foundation Establishment Tributors had announced they were entering seclusion just yesterday.

But Zhu Yiqun and Song Changsheng shared a bond forged in life and death. With the Song Clan in peril, he couldn't just stand by and do nothing; he had to help out in some way.

As for Wang Xuande, his willingness to fight was entirely to repay the debt of gratitude he owed Song Xianming for his guidance in the dao of Arrays.

Three Array Hubs, twelve Foundation Establishment Cultivators—with such a lavish lineup, even a Purple Mansion Cultivator would be in for a nasty surprise.

"With that, the outer defenses are in your hands," Song Luzhou said with a solemn salute. "Every Spirit Mountain has a secret passage. If you cannot hold your position, you may retreat to Vast Mist Peak. You must be swift. At that time, I will detonate the Spiritual Veins beneath the Spirit Mountains."

"We will not fail our mission!" Liu Hongye and the others replied in unison, their voices ringing with imposing momentum.

"Good. Please be seated. Next, we will discuss the defense of Vast Mist Peak."

"Lutong, Changlian, you will each lead fifty clan Cultivators to guard the northeast corner of the Grand Array."

"As you command!"

"Luyun, Changrong, you will each lead fifty clan Cultivators and guard the southeast corner of the Grand Array."

"We accept!"

"Chang'an, Changjun, you will also each lead fifty clan Cultivators and guard the northwest corner of the Grand Array."

"This nephew accepts the command!"

"Qingqian, you will follow Twenty-first Uncle and lead one hundred clan Cultivators to guard the southwest corner of the Grand Array."

"As you command!"

"Qingming, you will follow me and lead the remaining clan Cultivators to provide support from the center. Are there any questions?"

"This grandson has no questions!" Song Qingming replied with a respectful salute.

Song Luzhou nodded slightly. Finally, he saluted Song Xianming and Yuann Tianshu. "Then I must trouble Great Uncle and Yuann Tributor with the Array Hub."

"It is my duty. Say no more. Besides, it's been years since I've stretched my old bones. Let's see what they're made of," Yuann Tianshu said with a hearty laugh that shook the entire great hall.

Upon hearing this, the morale of everyone in the great hall soared.

Seeing this, Song Xianming smiled faintly. 'He knew Yuann Tianshu was not one to enjoy conflict. The only reason he said that was to declare his own resolve and, more importantly, to boost everyone's morale.'

"The assignments have been made clear. All of you, go and conserve your strength. A bitter battle awaits us soon," Song Xianming declared, his voice resonating with power.

Everyone rose and bowed. After they had all departed, Song Xianming looked behind him and said, "If the battle turns against us, I'll have to trouble you to lend a hand, Fellow Daoist."

"Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Song. When one accepts a task, one must be faithful to it. Since I have accepted the Great City Lord's commission, I will naturally do my utmost," a wizened voice replied, drifting out from the darkness.

"My thanks." Song Xianming clasped his hands in a salute. His voice echoed in the empty hall, but he received no further reply...

Five days later, the vast Allied Army of the Lieyang Sect and the Rong Clan arrived at the Moon Viewing Mountain Range.

Gazing at the rolling mountain range, Hex Tai's emotions churned. 'It was there that he had suffered his greatest defeat to date, a massive stain on the story of his life.'

"This time, I will wipe away my past disgrace!" Hex Tai clenched his fists, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

At that moment, a Lieyang Sect Elder approached him and said respectfully, "Reporting to the Supreme Elder, the Moon Viewing Marketplace is less than three hundred li from here. Our scouts have confirmed that the Song Clan's Quasi-Celestial Ship has not left. It seems they intend to defend the marketplace to the death."

"Martial Uncle, we must be wary of the Quasi-Celestial Ship," Zhang Hongguang immediately reminded him.

Against a Purple Mansion Cultivator, the Quasi-Celestial Ship might not stand a chance, but on a Foundation Establishment battlefield, it was an absolute catastrophe.

If they ignored it, they couldn't afford to be caught by a surprise attack from it while they were assaulting Vast Mist Peak.

"You're right. You will take some men and capture the Marketplace. If possible, bring that Quasi-Celestial Ship back to me."

Hearing this, Zhang Hongguang was overjoyed. Compared to the tough nut that was Vast Mist Peak, the Moon Viewing Marketplace was a much safer target.

"I will definitely capture the Moon Viewing Marketplace for the Sect!" Zhang Hongguang declared, pounding his chest. He quickly gathered five Foundation Establishment Cultivators and three hundred Qi Cultivators, breaking off from the main force to advance toward the Moon Viewing Marketplace.

The movements of this detachment had been monitored by the Wind Language Hall all along. Thus, Song Changrong received the news well in advance. The Profound Yuan Water Control Array activated at full power, enveloping the entire Moon Viewing Marketplace.

He, along with Song Changxue and Song Qingqing, boarded the Black Star Ship, ready for battle.

After Zhang Hongguang and his troops arrived, they launched a few probing attacks. However, the combined efforts of the five Foundation Establishment Cultivators failed to budge the Profound Yuan Water Control Array in the slightest.

Instead, Song Changrong seized the opportunity to launch a counterattack with the Black Star Ship's Crystal Cannons.

Although Zhang Hongguang's timely rescue prevented any casualties, the attack gave them a taste of the Quasi-Celestial Ship's power, making the Foundation Establishment and Qi Cultivators hesitant to advance recklessly.

Zhang Hongguang knew that only by personally holding off the Quasi-Celestial Ship in the sky would his men have the courage to press forward.

Therefore, he no longer remained behind the lines. He unleashed a Little Divine Technique, shattering the tranquility of the Moon Viewing Marketplace, and the two sides became locked in a bitter struggle...

Meanwhile, Song Luzhou received the news that Zhang Hongguang had split his forces to attack the Moon Viewing Marketplace. Far from being alarmed, a look of delight crossed his face.

'The Moon Viewing Marketplace was always meant to be a decoy to split the enemy's forces. It now seemed that their plan had achieved its intended purpose, significantly reducing the pressure on Vast Mist Peak.'

Soon after, he received a message from Liu Hongye, stating that the main force of the Lieyang Sect and the Rong Clan had arrived within fifty li of Spirit Plant Mountain.

He was just about to go out and take a look when he heard Hex Tai's bellowing taunt.

"Song Xianming, get out here and fight me!"

The powerful voice echoed through the clouds. Song Luzhou's face immediately darkened. He strode out of the great hall and came face to face with Song Xianming and Yuann Tianshu.

Song Xianming's expression was calm as he nodded at him. "Let's go and meet our old adversary together."

With that, he grabbed Song Luzhou's shoulder, and in a few great strides, they arrived in the sky above Spirit Plant Mountain.

When enemies meet, their eyes burn with exceptional hatred.

Hex Tai sneered, "You actually dare to show your face? I thought you'd hide like a coward in your shell!"

"I wondered who it could be. It's just the old foe I defeated while fighting above my rank. An old dog who once fled in a panic now dares to bark madly before me, even using such a lofty title for himself? I wonder who gave you the courage!"

With his first words, Song Xianming publicly ripped open Hex Tai's old wounds. Hex Tai's aged face turned as black as the bottom of a pot as he said coldly, "When did you become all talk?"

"What, did I strike a nerve?" Song Xianming sneered.

"Hmph. Enough talk. Let's settle this with our fists! I want to see if your strength is as impressive as your mouth!"

With a wave of his sleeve, Hex Tai's disciples officially began their charge against the array...

...